Inspiring Derwentside

Derwentside offers unique opportunities for established and new businesses alike, Andrea McGuigan tells Estates Review

Derwentside District Council provides a range of services for businesses, delivering what is needed to create a successful and buoyant economy for the district. Local companies have access to financial incentive packages, bespoke business advice, training programmes and an array of modern floorspace.

Business Support in Derwentside
The Business Development Team at Derwentside work hard to support businesses in the district. Working in partnership with local enterprise agencies, training providers, various funding bodies and community groups, they have built a network of support tailored to meet the needs of the various businesses within the district.

The Team have developed a number of projects, which collectively work towards making the district an even better place to live and work. They provide businesses with specialist advice and mentoring, financial incentives, modern office accommodation/workshop and bespoke training tailored to individual needs. The various projects initiated by Derwentside Council’s Development Team sets firm foundations for businesses to grow and develop in the district.

Modern Floorspace
The Development Team at Derwentside District Council identified a shortage of modern business floorspace in the district. Already having 54 high quality offices at Derwentside Business Centre and a new 10,000 square foot manufacturing facility, they are currently developing plans to build a new 40,000 square foot office development at Tanfield Lea to meet the growing demand.

This forms part of a long-term strategy to develop further business space at Tanfield. Work is due to start on the construction of Tanfield Lea Business Centre in January 2008.

For further information please contact Ross Bullerwell, Principal Development Officer on 01207 218435, or email r.bullerwell@derwentside.gov.uk

Business Start-up Project
The “Emerge” project has been established for three years, funding and supporting over 110 Derwentside residents set up in business, creating over 180 new jobs for the District. The project offers financial support, specialist advice and mentoring and bespoke training tailored to suit the needs of the small business.
To find out more about the Emerge project contact Jerome Mertz on (01207) 693914.

Financial Incentives
Lack of funding can often deter new businesses from starting up and existing businesses from continuing to grow and develop new markets. A grant scheme has been designed to provide financial incentives to companies who are locating to the district or who already reside in Derwentside. The grant support can be used to bridge funding gaps at the start-up and expansion stage and contribute towards relevant establishment costs. This may include overheads and expenditure in areas such as investing in eligible productive capacity, marketing, exporting, product innovation and improvements to ICT in terms of networking and e-enablement.
To find out how to access the financial incentives scheme please contact Joanne Urquhart-Arnold on (01207) 218053.

£6.8 million Office Development for Derwentside
Derwentside District Council has secured funding to develop a high-quality and innovative three-storey business centre at Tanfield Lea Business Park, near Stanley in Co Durham. Work will start on the £6.8m Tanfield Lea Business Centre in January 2008.

The business centre is aimed at providing a wide range of office accommodation for both business start-ups and expanding companies and will include a new approach to lettings in order to encourage young entrepreneurs to pursue self-employment.

It is anticipated that the centre will significantly add to the Derwentside economy, helping to create over 30 new businesses employing over 200 people. It is due to be completed in March 2009.

Councillor David Llewelyn, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Derwentside District Council said, “This is a major project in the continuing economic regeneration of Derwentside. It represents one of largest and most ambitious projects to be funded by the council and external agencies and is yet another great success for Derwentside”.